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Actress Lea Thompson has become the latest celebrity to be booted off U.S. reality show Dancing With The Stars. The star impressed judges with her sexy samba and paso doble with professional dance partner Artem Chigvintsev on Monday (10Nov14), but it was not enough to save them from the axe, despite placing higher than stoner icon Tommy Chong on the night's final scoreboard.
Speaking after the elimination, the 53-year-old actress said, "I just feel really great. I feel strong and I'm anxious to get back to my day job on (TV drama series) Switched at Birth."
Comedian Chong remains among the five contestants heading into the semi-finals next week (begs17Nov14), alongside Pretty Little Liars actress Janel Parrish and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star Alfonso Ribeiro, who is one of the favourites to win the mirrorball trophy.

ABC
My eyes are still recovering after four hours (four hours!) of sparkle exposure. (I complain, but I love it.) Part I of the DWTS finale was pretty jam-packed: in addition to their judges' choice dances, the four finalists had to do a samba relay challenge and a freestyle challenge.
The judges' choice dances were interesting to watch: the judges chose something they wanted to the see the competitors work on improving. We got to see repeats of old dances – most contestants improved, even Bill, who managed all nines. Next came the Samba Relay. As with many challenges, Corbin and Karina reigned supreme, though Amber got points from Carrie Ann ("That was some nice undulation going on"), and Bill got an honorable mention for briefly shakin' it with Derek.
The freestyles, as it turned out, were the main event for finale part I: they were basically an invitation to go all out. Bill and Emma went first, doing a rousing rendition of the Indiana Jones theme song, complete with multiple whips. Then came Corbin and Karina, who did a crazy (crazy good) Michael Jackson-meets-Cirque du Soleil routine to "Smooth Criminal," which blew everyone's socks off, then Jack and Cheryl with did a "showstopping" (according to the judges) hat-and-cane number, and finally, Amber and Derek finished things up with a Western-inspired saloon number – Len called her "Class, fast, and built to last" (now imagine it in a British accent). Aside from Bill, perfect scores were to be had all around – the dancers really had fun with their freestyle, and it sure showed.
After the numerous challenges came the dreaded elimination. Corbin and Karina and Amber and Derek were predictably safe, leaving Jack and Cheryl and Bill and Emma sweating under the lights. This time around, the reign of Bill Engvall finally came to an end: he was sent home. I'm quite glad he stuck around for so long – he was so well-liked by, well, everyone; his levity and charm made him compelling. And he and Emma had an absolutely adorable relationship; at the start of the episode he admitted, "I have a new best friend and fake-daughter," and after his elimination he echoed the sentiment.
Now, without any further ado, on to part II...as a first time DWTS-watcher, I was completely unprepared for the bonanza that lay ahead of me. It was quite the event – all of the contestants came back to dance encores, and there were live performances about with huge names including Lady Antebellum, Enrique Iglesias, Ylvis (which brought about the resurrection the ever-excellent Team Foxing Awesome), and Colbie Caillat.
Though with all of the replays and encores, we never lost sight of the true challenge that lay ahead: the fusion dances. Corbin and Karina took the stage first, with a cha-cha/foxtrot combo – it looked perfect to me, but apparently he missed a step at the end that led to nines as opposed to tens. Next up, Jack and Cheryl performed a Paso Doble/Salsa dance. Upon finishing, they got some pretty high praise from Len: citing his improvement week to week, Len told him, that out of al the dancers, "You have given me the most pleasure to watch." Finally, Amber and Derek did a near-flawless samba/quickstep concoction. Fun and energetic, it earned them a perfect score.
And finally, after much ado...the moment we've all been waiting for: the bequeathal of the coveted mirror ball trophy. Jack ended up taking third (he tied with his sister!), while Amber took the lead and Corbin second. Not a surprise, I guess? We knew right out of the gate that Corbin and Amber were the ones to beat (though to be fair, it was fun to watch Jack, the dark horse, come so close to the top). Quibbles aside – I mean, who can blame a reality competition for being predictable? – Amber definitely deserved the win; and let's hope she keeps on dancing!
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ABC
Former DWTS professional Maksim "Maks" Chmerkovskiy joined us on the other side of the judging table, where he was handily wedged in between Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli. Bruno's playfully lecherous flirtation was, needless to say, pretty entertaining. Plus, in such close quarters, Bruno's wild gestures almost decapitated him at one point – luckily, Maks used his dancers' swift instincts to dodge.
The challenge this week was quite interesting as well; the dancers were given the task of performing two distinct dances to different versions (original and acoustic) of the same song – the theme was plugged/unplugged. High points included Amber Riley and Derek Hough's eye-poppingly energetic jazz dance to "Bad Romance," and Jack Osbourne and Cheryl Burke's fiery tango to the Moulin Rouge acoustic version of "Roxanne" (in the face of M.S. flare-ups, no less). Lowpoints: Bill Engvall and Emma Slater's half-baked "Sexy and I Know It" routine (he was pushing through a groin injury, but still), and Corbin Bleu and Karina Smirnoff's overly flame-inspired tango to "Light 'Em Up" (seriously, that was just too much fire. And what was with the hooded cloaks?)
We also got to hear a bit of each contestant's backstory, which was quite sentimental (schmaltzy even for DWTS, but that's why we love it) – we got to see how The Osbournes messed with Jack's childhood, and how Multiple Sclerosis now plagues his adulthood. Also notable were the struggles Amber faced with casting directors, largely based off of her race and weight. I almost wish we could have had these testimonials earlier in the season, but I guess going through it with all 12 of the original couples would have been overwhelming to say the least.
As for eliminations: the reign of Bill Engvall continues...it's getting tricky, isn't it? He truly is delightful (as the judges continually remind us before docking major points), and he has a compelling relationship with his partner – but how far should that take you on a dancing competition? The fan vote has saved him week after week after week, with technically more proficient dancers going home. With Brant Daugherty and Elizabeth Berkley, it was surprising, but with Leah, it was almost melancholy. The two of them came from the same place – both inexperienced dancers with enough personality to make up for it. But even though she has technically improved much more than he has, she was the one who was booted off the show.
We were sad to see her go. With her copious wisecracking, she brought a sense of levity to the show; watching her and Tony imitate each other's sexy faces at each other was kind of awesome. And while they didn't have the chemistry of say, Brant and Peta, you really got the sense that they were looking out for each other. Tony has oft voiced the opinion that Leah is what DWTS is all about – and in a lot of ways, she was. She came in insecure, with little-to-no dance experience (ahem, Corbin), and has slowly worked her way up to the semi-finals, all the way as an underdog through and through; someone you could root for. She in turn, has said how much his belief in her has meant to her as a competitor – their mutual respect for each other led to some lovely moments throughout the season, and as Corbin, Bill, Jack, and Amber continue on as finalists, she'll definitely be missed.
Stray Observations
* Worst costume of the week: Emma Slater's mesh bodysuit/furry-looking bikini.
* Some of the song covers were just plain awful. "Locked Out of Heaven" in the style of Evanescence? No. Just, no.
* Leah's daughter crying after her elimination was awfully precious.
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ABC
ABC did exactly what everyone was saying they were trying to do when they hired Bill Nye the Science Guy: they hooked the nerdy millenials. I mean, Bill was eliminated way back on episode 3 (after an adorable immobilized-knee robot dance to "Get Lucky") and I'm still hooked. Glitter and sequins aside, there's something that's touching about watching the stars and "the professionals" really bond as they spend hours a day training. Watching Valerie Harper dance the Viennese waltz to "Carry On" with her very-sweet partner Tristan McManus was -- cheesy as it sounds -- beautiful in more ways than one.
Mushiness aside, this week the dancers/stars were in for a very special treat: Cher was guest judging, in place of at-times astringent head judge Len Goodman. Everyone was over the moon – Cher was über-complimentary and supportive, and she handed out exclusively 8s and 9s. That must have been a nice break (Leah Remini in particular, expressed this sentiment multiple times), and it was fun to see the starstruck stars: Elizabeth Berkley publicly (and only slightly awkwardly) thanked Cher for what she's done to empower women.
As we move into week 8, the competition has been getting tighter and tighter. The scores don't vary that much, and it really comes down to the fan vote: even after earning a respectable 27 after an electrifying foxtrot, Pretty Little Liars star Brant Daugherty and partner Peta Murgatroyd (keep wanting to spell it "Peeta." Damn you, Hunger Games!) were sent home.
It's a shame – as judge Carrie Ann Inaba put it, he's one of the contestants that's actually shown the most growth. He started fairly strong, but has markedly improved on a week-to-week basis, which is no easy feat. Plus, there's the fact that he literally looked like a '70s Disney prince in his peach-colored suit this week, with a kind of scary mannequin smile to match. I may have found it a little odd, but Cher sure loved it, and that's what's important.
Anyways, I think I'm not alone when I say I'll miss Brant, and I'm not just making salacious comments about his abs. (Although: dayyyyyyum!) He had an earnestness and work ethic that we don't always expect to see in handsome young actors, and he and Peta had the best chemistry on the show. (If you google them, you'll find piles of dating rumors.) Farewell Brant and Peta – may you dance again.
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Dance 1: Repeat
Kelly &amp; Val
For their repeat dance, Kelly and Val reprised their paso doble from Week 3. Was it sensual? Yes. Was it spicy? Yep. Did they make out? Ugh, I wish. All we got was a tiny little nose peck. The lovebirds did get lucky, though – despite missing one grab (which was probably the longest they’ve ever gone without touching each other), they got two perfect 10’s, their first of the season. Which means they totally made out backstage.
Carrie Ann: 9.5
Len: 10 Bruno: 10
Melissa &amp; Tony
Melissa and Tony also went back to Week 3, dancing their tried-and-true samba. I’ve never seen that kind of fierceness in Tony before – his rehearsal video clip showed a kind of aggression I never expected from the always-smiling Tony. They landed a perfect score, putting them in a great position to win their first Mirror Ball Trophy. Please tell me I’m not the only one rooting for the underdogs here.
Carrie Ann: 10
Len: 10 Bruno: 10
Shawn &amp; Derek
America’s Sweethearts brought back their controversial Week 3 quickstep, which got them in trouble for not following the DWTS rules – they broke holds, did banned lifts, and generally went YOLO all over the place. Cool as it was – and trust me, the audience ate it up – they got tons of points docked last time and again today. Will it hurt them? Doubtful. It’ll take a lot more than breaking some rules to ruin their chances.
Carrie Ann: 9
Len: 8.5 Bruno: 9.5
Dance 2: Freestyle
Kelly &amp; Val
Ugh, did anyone else expect Val to just propose to Kelly at the end of this dance? Let’s look at the number of Horrible Rom-Com Clichés utilized in this performance: 1) Aerial dance. 2) Dirty Dancing lift. 3) Violin solo. 4) Gospel choir. 5) Backup dancers. 6) Flowy dress. 7) That “Time Of My Life” song. Ugh. I really just want to puke everywhere…and I loved it.
Carrie Ann: 10
Len: 9.5 Bruno: 10
Melissa &amp; Tony
The underdogs channeled Cirque Du Soleil with their final freestyle. Like, seriously? Backup dancers hanging around the stage in cubes? And those lifts were straight-up Dirty Dancing status – for the second time tonight.
Carrie Ann: 10
Len: 10 Bruno: 10
Shawn &amp; Derek
Because there weren’t enough sweethearts in the America’s Sweetheart duo, Shawn and Derek brought everyone’s favorite championship gymnasts into the mix tonight. Yep. The Fierce Five – McKayla’s unimpressed look and all – made an appearance (JORDYN WIEBER I LOVE YOU). Ugh. It was perfect. So, so perfect, you guys. Would it have been great without the other girls? Probably. Would it have been as heartwarming? Not even a little bit.
Carrie Ann: 10
Len: 10 Bruno: 10
[Photo Credit: Adam Taylor/ABC]
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The image that surfaced yesterday was shocking. A celebrity walking across a Kmart parking lot in L.A. snapped by the paparazzi. She was wearing trendy layered T-shirts, tight jeans, and platforms higher than Lindsay Lohan at a glue-sniffing convention. Her hair was done, her lips were glossed, her sunglasses were on. All the tabloids were talking about her outfit and just how skinny she looks. Look at how much weight she's lost! Maybe there's an endorsement deal in her future? But this wasn't a pop star with a ridiculous YouTube video or a starlet with a new show coming out on the CW any minute now. This was Sarah Palin, a woman who just four years ago ran to be Vice President of the United States of America.
Sarah Palin is now nothing but a celebrity. With this picture, Sarah Palin transformed from a political figure to a popular one, and the move she made next only solidified that. Her next book wasn't going to be a follow up to Going Rogue, her political memoir about becoming the Governor of Alaska and running for the second biggest office in the country. No, she is writing a fitness and diet book. This is not what a politician does. She should be writing a policy tome or crusading for the causes she believes in. She should be stumping and fundraising and wearing conservative pant suits and Old Glory pins. Sarah Palin, meanwhile, goes to Dancing with the Stars to support her daughter, a celebrity in her own right. It appears as though the Palins are now closer to Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian than Hillary and Chelsea Clinton. Palin even had a reality show of her own. She appears on Fox News to comment on political issues, but she doesn't do it as an elected official anymore. Her visits to cable news are the same as when Ben Affleck shows up on Real Time with Bill Maher to push his liberal agenda.
At this point, George Clooney and Sean Penn, who have been aggressively lobbying for relief in Darfur and Haiti respectively, have more of a political agenda than Palin. She didn't move to DC to be closer to the seat of power, she moved to L.A., the other two-lettered town that is full of power — but the power of the entertainment industry and the celebrity industrial complex. She isn't running for office and she wasn't invited to the Republican National Convention this year. She didn't even attend.
This is odd because she came into our lives purely as a political figure. It wasn't like Ronald Reagan or Arnold Schwarzenegger who were famous first and then got into politics. Palin was plucked from obscurity up there in Alaska and thrust into the national consciousness. The immediate fascination with her had more to do with this narrative — the attractive female governor suddenly shoved into the spotlight — than anything of substance in her life. She brought with her a life like a reality show; her teenage daughter was pregnant out of wedlock to a no-good man who wanted to pose for Playgirl magazine and her husband was still trying to shake the specter of Troopergate. Then came Tina Fey and her impression that brought the candidate off of the convention stage and into the pop cultural arena.
Once Palin and John McCain lost the election, it seemed like she would still be famous in the political sphere, as governor of Alaska. Then she quit. Then she wrote a book. Then she got the reality show, and now she's dithering around L.A. shopping a fitness book the day after her "skinny shots" hit the tabloid press.
This is a first. Sarah Palin is truly unique for being the first to use legitimate political clout and presidential politics to make herself into a B-list celebrity rather than the other way around. Her involvement with politics is as tangential now as any other celebrity's; she doesn't hold office and is more interested in pursuing gigs that will cultivate her fame and popularity than getting the voters to back her. Al Gore, after he lost his campaign, also took to the movies, but that was An Inconvenient Truth, a documentary about climate change, which has more to do with politics than whether or not Bristol will survive doing the Paso Doble this week.
Welcome to the brave new world, Sarah Palin, because you are officially a celebrity and we're not quite sure what to do with you. Should we continue to pretend like what you say about issues matters any more than a Real Housewife? Should we give you a show or an acting role? Are you ready to be the next Bachelorette? One thing is for sure though. If you ever do run again, someone is going to have to remind you of when the McCain campaign smeared Obama for being a celebrity. He wasn't even the one emailing his diet book plans to People magazine.
Follow Brian Moylan on Twitter @BrianJMoylan
[Photo Credit: Miguel/Rocstar/FameFlynet]
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During most seasons of Dancing With the Stars, it takes at least four or five weeks before eliminations start getting emotional. But according to Sabrina Bryan's coach and partner, Louis van Amstel, this season is a whole new ballgame.
Van Amstel spoke to Hollywood.com from the set of DWTS, and told us that emotions are already running high. "Last week when Joey [Fatone] and Kym [Johnson] left, we were choked up, some were crying, and it’s only Week 2. Normally, that doesn’t happen until midseason, or [Week] 7, when you have to say goodbye to people you really build a friendship with. This season it’s like that every results show," he says.
In fact, it's downright sweet backstage when it comes time to say goodbye to one of their own. "Everybody’s goofing off in the afternoon, and joking, 'Oh thank you, but it’s time to go home.' But when the show starts, everyone is serious and encouraging each other, and it’s really a sweet energy backstage," says van Amstel.
But it's not just eliminations that get Bryan going. Van Amstel says she gets very concerned about her performance each week. "I just said, 'The energy in the room felt like we won ... Just do what you have been doing, take your time and enjoy the ride.’ And she kept saying, ‘I want to do Mel B proud. It’s such an honor to have her dedicate her paso doble to me in Season 7…’" says van Amstel.
And it makes sense that Bryan would be so worried. The talented dancer was eliminated far too early when she first was on Dancing With the Stars in Season 7. "Sabrina, the poor girl, is so scared that what happened in Season 5 [will happen again,] that she takes risks, she gets a low score, and then it’s her time to go home," he says. It's why Bryan was so insistent on "not breaking the rules" in Monday's night's video package before her paso doble with van Amstel.
But no matter what tonight's results are, Bryan's heart is clearly in the right place. "What I love about her … is to hear her say ‘I just want to do justice to the song’ and ‘I just want to do justice to the fans who voted me back in.’ She is a piece of lemon humble pie," says van Amstel.
Are you rooting for Sabrina and Louis? Do you think they'll hang on through tonight's double elimination?
Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesday night at 9 PM ET on ABC. And this time, two couples are going home.
Follow Kelsea on Twitter @KelseaStahler
[Photo Credit: ABC]
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We need to talk about the use of props in this week’s DWTS. A harness? A Mini Cooper? A… ahem… donkey?! This week, the celebs took creative control of their dance numbers and recreated “iconic dances” from seasons past. From flying Frenchmen to Olympic floor routines, this week had it all… and then some. Plus, a bombshell: Paula Abdul will guest-judge next week. Wait… what show is this again?
Drew &amp; Anna
Poor Drew. I think this routine — Joey McIntyre’s cha-cha from Season 1 — was intended to help him lose the boy-band image he’s had projected on him since he was, well, born. Sorry Drew. You were in 98 Degrees. You’ll never not remind people of the late-90s glory days. I don’t care what Bruno says: you’re no Channing Tatum to this girl.
Score: 24
Gilles &amp; Peta
Ladies and gentlemen, the dance of the night belongs to these two. Not for technical skill or dramatic flair (although this certainly had plenty of both). No, this couple wins because GILLES FLEW IN ON A HARNESS. His vaguely sexualized Peter Pan tribute (just go with it) had the whole audience screaming his praise.
Score: 25
Melissa &amp; Tony
I’m sorry. I don’t think I was able to watch this dance — a season 13 samba — because I went blind as soon as Melissa waltzed onto the stage. Looking at her was like staring into the sun in the middle of Mardi Gras — girlfriend had more rhinestones than Toddlers &amp; Tiaras. For sheer insanity (was that a headstand I saw?!), judges awarded this one of the highest scores of the night.
Score: 27
Apolo &amp; Karina
Apolo goes for the low blow this week, reprising rival Gilles’ foxtrot from Season 3. I don’t know who decided it would be a good idea to have living statues on the dance floor, but I guess in the category of weird things that happened onstage tonight, this is among the tamer options. Still, I’m thinking Apolo probably hasn’t seen the latest episode of Doctor Who, otherwise he might have chosen something a little less terrifying.
Score: 25.5
Kelly &amp; Val
Ooooh, sibling rivalry! Kelly warns Val that he has to beat brother Maks this week (although as we’ll see, that’s a tall order when it comes to sheer stage presence). I’m surprised it’s taken Kelly this long to show just how good she is — as far as technical skill goes, she’s one of the most naturally gifted dancers on the show. But I guess she’s also the busiest — unlike most of the other celebs, she’s still working her day job (on General Hospital) while rehearsing for DWTS. Still, she gets the best score of the night. Go girl!
Score: 27
Kirstie &amp; Maks
Oh, Maks. Kirstie has made you weird. The dancer came out in a tricked-out Mini Cooper, decked out in full Mick Jagger regalia — complete with a pageboy wig and pants so tight I assume he was stitched into them. But seriously. How did those pants not rip apart on the dancefloor? Was that not the goal?
Score: 24
Sabrina &amp; Louis
Sabrina Bryan is the only person in the world who could make a dance that Scary Spice originated look cute. Mel B. originally performed this paso doble the week after Sabrina was eliminated in Season 5, and dedicated it to her — making this a full-circle triumph and a big “what now?!” to the legions of voters who booted her off last time. The judges critiqued her for not being dynamic enough for an all-stars competition, but Sabrina is so lovable and energetic that it’s hard to imagine her going home anytime soon.
Score: 25.5
Emmitt &amp; Cheryl
Emmitt, I’m sorry, but if you put a donkey on stage, a few things are going to happen. One, no one will pay attention to you because there is a four-legged former Shrek costar whinnying in the corner, and two, half the audience is terrified the donkey will go rogue and kick someone in the front row. In Emmitt’s defense, though, he did try to regain everyone’s attention with some crafty throws that had me convinced Cheryl was about to die. A good dance? I’m not sure. But I award you 30/30 points for the livestock.
Score: 25
Helio &amp; Chelsie
I’m sorry — call me a terrible person, but I love seeing celebs mess up. It’s part of why we as Americans love reality TV (hellooo, Snooki!) and something I hope for — but somehow always miss — each week on DWTS. This week, I finally got my wish, although Helio’s tiny trip wasn’t enough to send him and Chelsie careening across the dance floor. Still, he tripped, and schadenfreude kicked in. Because now I can feel like I’m more talented than someone. Thanks, Helio!
Score: 25.5
Bristol &amp; Mark
Honestly, I know I love to hate Bristol but I actually felt real pity for her this week. Our favorite redneck had a true Alaskan meltdown, accusing Mark of being unhappy to be stuck with her. It’s actually really sad — she’s so insecure about how she’s perceived on the show that she can’t help but be emotional. Luckily for her, girlfriend had a mini-comeback this week, earning praise from the judges for her “best dance yet.” For this week, and this week only, I agree. Stay strong, girl!
Score: 22
Shawn &amp; Derek
Hey guys! Guess what? Shawn is an Olympic gymnast! Just in case anyone forgot (how could we?), Shawn and Derek performed a quickstep that was more floor routine than actual dance. Literally, there were trampolines involved. The judges called it the best dance in DWTS history, but stickler Len docked them a point for “breaking the rules.” Haters gonna hate, Len. Haters gonna hate/
Which all-star is headed home tonight?
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Instead of spending this week thinking about my original predictions for the So You Think you Can Dance Season 9 final four (which was some combination of Amelia/Audrey/Matthew/Chehon, only one of whom made it remotely close to the top), I spent considerable time thinking about the Jedi mind tricks manufactured by Nigel at the end of last week’s episode.
Think about it. Why did he support Cyrus throughout the entirety of the season — the whole thing — and then choose the last three minutes of the final performance show to turn against him?
I have decided I know why: It was all a ploy. A ploy to get us all to pity Cyrus and vote for him. A ploy to make Cyrus the 2012 America’s Favorite (Male) Dancer.
I’m not complaining. I consider myself very jaded when it comes to these shows and very aware of Nigel’s various forms of manipulation—and even I felt bad for Cyrus. Even I fell for it. Even I started thinking that maybe, just maybe, Cyrus deserved to win. Me! Who has been complaining for the entirety of the last five weeks that he did not deserve to be here at all!
During last night’s finale, we found out whether the mind tricks worked.
But first. There was, of course, a two-hour performance finale featuring the entire top 20, plus Carly Rae Jepsen and assorted other random stars. We also welcomed back many of the guest judges that graced the panel this season, including Tyce Diorio, Adam Shankman and Jackson Avery’s mom from Grey’s Anatomy.
The night kicked off with a routine Nigel called “the best routine we’ve ever opened the show with.” Glad to see that Nigel &amp; Co. kept their gross exaggerations in check for the finale.
To some extent, it lived up to Nigel’s words. Like every other opening routine we’ve seen this season, it was dark and overwrought with emotion and everyone was wearing all black and the guys spent most of the two minutes tossing the flailing ladies around the stage. But I have to say, it was pretty cool in a Wuthering Heights kind of way.
Also, I kid you not: There was one portion of the routine where four or five of the immensely talented males leapt and jumped and twirled and all-around impressed, while Cyrus — seriously, I kid you not — kind of crouched at the top of the stage and crawled across it. But ignore me. I was on Team Cyrus this week. I keep forgetting.
You’re probably wondering how the producers planned to fill their allotted two hours of finale time. I shall tell you: Each of the six judges on the panel was tasked with naming his or her favorite routine of the season, which we would then be treated to seeing for a second time.
Nigel chose Matthew and Audrey’s chaise lounge routine (Nigel’s pronunciation of that phrase puts mine to shame — good thing I write and I don’t speak), inspired by Titanic and choreographed by Travis Wall. I enjoyed this routine — I really did. But it was just so literal in its inspiration. Still, at the beginning of this season — maybe as soon as I saw this exact number — I remember saying that I’d be shocked if these two weren’t in the finale.
Well. I’m not so shocked anymore. This is also why I don’t ever bet. I do stand by the fact, though, that these two were two of the most talented and graceful contemporary dancers of the season.
Up next, Lil C chose Twitch’s and Witney’s hip-hop routine for its “rhythmical versatility.” Ha. If that’s what you want to call it.
I actually liked this routine significantly more tonight than I did the first time I saw it. Probably because back when I first saw it, Witney was still in the running, a fact that infuriated me endlessly. I have to admit, she and Twitch were a surprisingly intriguing pair, but I stand by the fact that her hairography constitutes at least half of what the judges lovingly refer to as her appeal. Applegate’s with me on that one.
Debbie/Jackson’s mom finally got one of our top two ladies on the stage when she picked Tiffany’s and George’s “Turning Page” routine, choreographed by Sonya. This was such a perfect partnership — just like Audrey and Matthew, these two are such talented, mechanically-sound contemporary dancers. Both of them have such terrific extension, such clean lines … they just danced so well together. Poor George just couldn’t get any love from the voting public. At least one of them survived till the end, though.
We then took some time to look back at the five best moments from the audition tour — a.k.a. the sob-story dancers who weren’t good enough to make it onto the show, but whom the producers felt the need to pimp, regardless.
For No. 5, we took a look back at Leroy, who came from a rough neighborhood and channeled his energy into starting a dance troupe for kids. I remember liking this dude. He was a good dude. He wouldn’t have survived on this show, though.
Then again, I said the same thing about Cyrus. So there’s that.
For his reprise pick, Adam chose Cole’s and Lindsay’s paso doble, choreographed by Jason Gilkison and a number Nigel deemed one of SYTYCD’s best paso dobles ever.
I missed Lindsay! I missed Cole! Lindsay was so likeable, and Cole so, so deserved to be in the finale. He was so versatile and so endearing. I, like Nigel and Adam, loved this routine: It was so dark in a Disney movie-montage kind of way. This was also a great moment for Lindsay because it got her out of the cute-little-teenager rut. It was a very mature performance from her.
Next up, Tyce — shockingly! — chose a Broadway routine. His favorite was the Lovecats number, performed by Amelia and Will. In another example of just how bad I am at predicting which dancers would be the last ones left standing, I remember seeing this and thinking that it would be impossible for Amelia to be left out of the top four.
Not only was she left out of the top four, she was left out of the top 10. She didn’t even qualify for the tour.
I guess this just goes to show that America’s love doesn’t come cheap. They want more than characters and theatrics and dancers who mug at the camera; they want real, undeniable talent.
Then, it was time for the No. 4 best moment of the season, which belonged to housewife Brie, who sacrificed her dancing career when she had kids. The judges originally put her through to Vegas — and invited her children to the judges’ panel to help determine her fate — but she didn’t make it much farther than that.
Moving right along, Mary chose what she perceived as the most powerful, emotional number of the season: Chehon’s and all-star Kathryn’s “Eli, Eli” routine, based on the Holocaust and choreographed by Tyce.
Oh, man, I loved this one. This routine was the precise moment Chehon became a lock for the finale. This is when he proved he could do emotion — he had that silent scream, that astounding lift in the middle, that dive toward the suitcase on the floor. This was probably his best performance of the season. Good thing we got to see it again. This would justify his win, 100 percent, if he got it.
Finally, at the end of the first hour of the finale, it was time to give some love to the four finalists, starting with Eliana. She chose to re-perform her “Bang Bang” contemporary piece with alls-star Alex — otherwise known as the routine that prompted Nigel to deem her his favorite dancer in the history of SYTYCD.
Along with Chehon’s suitcase routine, this was certainly one of the standouts of the season. It was so nice to finally — finally — get to see Eliana do a contemporary number with such a talented partner. For so long, she carried her partners — I’m talking to you, Cy — and this kind of reminded all of us how amazing she can be when she dances with someone who’s actually on her level.
Post-routine, Nigel told us once again that Eliana is his favorite, then told her that every choreographer on this show is obsessed with her and wants to hire her. Aw, shucks.
The No. 3 top moment of the season went to the two twins — I think they owned a clothing store or something — who auditioned when Jesse Tyler Ferguson was guest-judging. I remember them being kind of funny but also kind of annoying. Oh well.
Next, Cat got to choose a routine for us all to see once again! It was Tiffany and all-star Brandon’s disco! Featuring a whopping 11 lifts! Tiffany is so good. This was a great moment for her because it gave her a chance to get her inner J.Lo on, complete with the sparkly bodysuit. She finally got to show some personality and smile a little and prove that if the Black Eyed Peas ever need a backup dancer, she’s their girl. Oh, and as Cat indicated, the 11 lifts were pretty amazing.
Chehon chose to dance his Argentine tango with Anya because it helped him break through what he called his “emotional wall.” Kind of a strange pick for Chehon. I’m sure that if the judges hadn’t chosen the suitcase routine already, he would have — but this was an odd selection because the judges constantly got on his case about the fact that he was weak when it came to the Latin styles. I thought this routine was kind of sleepy and dull and not all that sensual or interesting for a tango, but hey. I suppose Chehon truly believed it helped him grow, so why not?
It also gave him an opportunity to wear a sheer red shirt.
Afterward, Mary told him he’s been extraordinary from the get-go, and the night he performed this particular tango was the night his wall noticeably came down.
After a lengthy montage of all the wonderful hip-hop routines we saw this season, we got another treat: a brand new hip-hop routine! With Twitch, Comfort and Cyrus featuring Christopher Scott!
Interesting that they gave Cyrus a special routine with two all-stars and a choreographer. Not that the producers adore him or anything. I’m not complaining because I love these dubstep numbers — they’re actually my favorite, and this one in particular was so impressive — but there is just so much rampant special treatment for Cy.
I would love to see this season’s voting totals just for an indication of how much demand there is for this. Given the way the producers pimped him, I would assume that Cyrus straight-up dominated all season.
Tiffany reprised her Mandy Moore-choreographed “Power of Love” contemporary routine because she said it was her defining moment. We know how much she loves that song. I do, too, and I was pretty thrilled I got to hear (and see!) it again. The lifts in this routine were so spectacular, and so was Tiffany’s body control. It was like a figure-skating routine on the ground. Pretty amazing stuff.
Mary said this was the routine that opened the judges’ eyes and proved that Tiffanyf could be a mature dancer as well as a “firecracker.”
This was the point in the finale when I really started wondering who would win. How do you choose between Eliana and Tiffany? How come they both couldn’t win?
The No. 2 top moment of the season — YES — was THE EXORCIST. Oh man, I missed him. This was absolutely the top audition moment for me. This possibly was the top moment of the season for me (I peaked early). I wonder if The Exorcist has watched Cyrus’ trajectory through this show and wishes he hadn’t given up.
And of course, the No. 1 moment of the season was Dragon House, the hip-hop trio from Atlanta, which was welcomed back to the live stage. So much love for hip-hop this season.
These dudes were so awesome. They were like three Cyruses. Wait, wasn’t Cyrus in Dragon House? Did I make that up? How come nobody mentioned that? How come Cyrus didn’t dance with them?
Carly Rae Jepsen then took the stage to celebrate her album’s release in the U.S. and to perform her new single, “This Kiss.” Praise the Lord that I didn’t have to hear “Call Me Maybe.” I actually had never heard her sing live before this. I try to avoid Carly Rae Jepsen at all costs.
And now I know why.
Anywho, after the entirely too long montage of this season’s greatest hits, it was time for Cyrus’ reprise. What a shocker that he got to go last! What an even bigger shocker that he chose his final duet with Twitch!
No, in all seriousness, I was pretty psyched that he chose this number. It was pretty excellent. Anyone who watches this show was waiting all season to see these two dance together, and finally seeing it happen was like Christmas.
Also, I think Twitch got more face time during the finale than three of the four finalists.
After they were finished and stood frozen and twitching at center stage, Cat earned her Emmy nomination with the quote of the night: “Don’t worry, I’ve got the charger!”
Nigel attempted to compensate for last week’s mind games by telling Cyrus that that “if some company doesn’t use you as the face of their product, they are very stupid.” ‘Kay. I’ve never seen Nigel pimp out contestants for endorsement deals before, but there’s a first time for everything. I’m sure he has plenty of ideas for Witney.
He also said that not only did Cy steal last week’s show with this routine, he stole the whole season. True story. No way he would lose.
… Or would he?
First, before the results, there was time for one more original routine, choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon (when did they have time to choreograph? Didn’t they just have a baby?). The top 10 teamed up with the all-stars, and OMG you guys. It was a king-of-the-jungle routine that began with the intro of “Circle of Life.” I was sold immediately.
Also, everyone was dressed up like lions, complete with fake fur and face paint. So that happened. It was like king-of the-jungle Rocky Horror Picture Show. I kind of enjoyed it, though.
And then — dun dun dun — the final results. Finally. It all came down to this. Oh, the nerves!
Eliana, dressed in all black, and Tiffany, dressed in all white, were up first. Both ladies were weeping as Cat dragged out the final reveal and deemed America’s favorite (female) dancer…
ELIANA!
I was pretty happy. She’s so cute and likable. So is Tiffany, but Tiff was kind of a late bloomer, so ultimately, this was no surprise. Eliana’s demeanor is so reminiscent of Melanie’s that this was kind of a given from the get-go, and she is just so freaking talented.
And then, the guys. This, of course, was the real moment of truth, which was why the producers saved the guys for last. During the pre-results montage, there was absolutely no doubt in my mind that Cyrus would win. It’s so easy to see why people love him. He is very lovable, and it’s so much fun to watch him. If that’s what this show is about, I’m okay with that, even if it means ultra-talented Chehon gets the shaft.
And so, America’s favorite male dancer was…
Chehon.
Did I not say that there is a reason why I don’t bet?
Still, I was pretty shocked. I think Cyrus was shocked. Chehon was definitely shocked. I think America ultimately made the right call here: They awarded the best dancer with the top honors.
But … there was a tiny part of me that felt bad for poor Cy.
But there is no doubt in my mind that we’ll be seeing more than enough of him in the all-star rounds of future seasons.
So that’s a wrap on Season 9! What did you think? Did the right dancers win? Who did you vote for? Did you buy into Nigel’s performance-finale mind tricks?
Until next season…
[Image Credit: FOX]
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This is it. Way back in May, the day after American Idol ended, when we first met all of these hopefuls, we knew it would come down to this night: The Season 9 performance finale.
And here we are, with four left standing – Cyrus, Chehon, Eliana and Tiffany – and for once, they’re dancing for your votes. Live. This week’s performance correlates directly to next week’s results, for the first time all season.
No pressure or anything. But something told me these four were up for it, especially after the way they all gave it everything last week. They all danced like they really, really wanted it, and at this point, it’s anyone’s game.
Next week’s finale-finale will reveal two winners – a girl and a guy – who will hold the title of America’s Favorite Dancer(s) for the next nine or so months until the cycle begins again.
Joining Nigel and Mary on the judging panel for the performance finale was Rob Marshall (I was hoping for a Ben Millepied repeat, but alas, no dice). First up was an interesting spectacle: Cyrus doing the paso doble. With Eliana. Oh, boy. I was actually thinking earlier this week about the fact that Cyrus hasn’t really been given any challenging styles this season, so the producers really pulled out all the stops for Tuesday’s show.
Both Cyrus and Eliana were clad in red and black, and Cyrus was supposed to be dressed like a matador, but he really just looked like he was wearing a tube dress that he couldn’t pull up all the way. As usual, Eliana was excellent and she carried her partner by attracting all of the attention to herself, thereby masking the fact that Cyrus didn’t really have to do anything except lift her, spin her and wave his arms every once in a while.
At one point mid-routine, he actually attempted some kind of weird cartwheel that truly looked like that scene in Dumb and Dumber when Jim Carrey is getting ready to fight the cook at the restaurant.
Nigel told Eliana she has a magical combination of performance and technique. Instead of critiquing Cyrus, Nigel chose to remind all of us that Cyrus didn’t ever believe he could become a part of this show, that he could make it into the finale, that he could ever escape his apartment with 400 roommates, etc. Blah, blah, blah. Mary actually one-upped Nigel by using the word “conquered” to describe what Cyrus did to the paso doble.
Tiffany has been making huge strides over the last few weeks, but could she continue it in the finale? Hopefully. Her first performance of the night, with all-star Will’s help, once again showed off all of her strengths, of which she has many: Her lines are so clean, her extension is always so perfect (pay attention, Cyrus), and she has the ideal combination of technical skill and character. Plus, she’s so, so versatile—not that Eliana isn’t, but I’m always so impressed with how perfect Tiffany is, no matter what style they saddle her with.
Mary told Tiffany that she is the epitome of a fabulous dancer and a great partner. Rob complimented Sonya for her choreography. Nigel said Tiffany’s lines and stage presence were so strong that they hid the fact that she’s so tiny.
After a quick break, Eliana got right back onstage—this time, with Chehon, for a ballet number. Could there be anything more perfect for these two? What a great partnership. They’re both such excellent classical dancers that even before this started, you knew it was going to be one of the best performances of the season.
It really was magical: There was Nutcracker choreography, and there was a pink tutu for Eliana and a white baptism costume for Chehon, and there was one spectacular lift in the middle of the routine that was so perfectly timed to the track that the entire audience burst out into cheers. It was like the ending of Black Swan times a million. If the producers let Chehon dance like this all season (kind of how they let Cyrus do hip-hop all season), he’d be a shoo-in for the victory. Maybe this will get him there.
Obviously, this got a standing ovation from the panel. Rob couldn’t believe Chehon’s versatility, and he said Eliana’s extension was breathtaking. Nigel also raved about the difficulty level of this routine and said that Chehon made the lifts look easy. Mary said that Chehon and Eliana are a triumph for the show.
Next, it was time for Tiffany and Cyrus to pair up. Would Tiffany be able to mask Cyrus’ shortcomings as expertly as Eliana? Would he bring her down? No, they’d be just fine because they got a lyrical hip-hop routine. Of course they did. There could be nothing better suited to Cyrus, but I guess I can’t complain because Chehon got a wheelhouse routine, too.
The story was about a young couple that breaks up and makes up once a week (how creative!). Cyrus was okay, but once again, what really amazed me about this number was how seamlessly Tiffany shifted from the paso doble to hip-hop—and how perfect she was in both routines. She really outshined Cyrus, which is difficult to do in a hip-hop routine; she really is so natural and has so much rhythm, whereas Cyrus seemed a bit behind the beat, and his “acting” was a little garish.
Nigel began by congratulating both Tiffany and Cyrus for avoiding the bottom three for the entirety of the competition. Yay. Then, he gave Cyrus credit for being able to memorize the choreography. That’s kind of like giving an Idol contestant props for remembering the words, no? Mary said they both killed it, and that Cyrus continues to get stronger and stronger every week (‘kay). Rob said both Cyrus and Tiffany had abandon, which he loved, and their routine was his favorite of the night.
Eliana’s final solo of the competition was up next, and of course, it was classical because that is where she excels. But it didn’t disappoint. Like Tiffany, Eliana has the ability to be so delicate in a routine like this, and yet she becomes a completely different person in a hip-hop routine, or in a jazz routine, or in a Broadway routine. And plus, she has to be one of the most likeable contestants in the history of this show.
For his all-star routine, Chehon paired up with Allison for a contemporary number about a guy who lets go of his girl because he wants her to pursue her dreams. These concepts are just so groundbreaking. But all corniness aside, this was once again an excellent routine for Chehon (and one that required him to have a completely unbuttoned shirt, naturally).
These choreographers are so, so good at creating these classical routines that really allow Chehon to show off. He’s such a strong partner, but he’s also so technically impressive on his own. He did a one-handed lift in this routine. Hello. He can do so much that Cyrus cannot that it would be such a robbery if he lost.
Also, just for the record, the acting in this routine was excellent. That’s not always Chehon’s strong suit, but on Tuesday, he brought it. Like Tiffany, it’s so easy to see how much he’s grown throughout his competition, and he deserves mad props for that.
Mary said Chehon was loose and free throughout the number, maybe for the first time all season. Rob was impressed with the height Chehon managed to get, and he told Allison she was “fierce.” Nigel spent a little too much time lauding the praise on Allison’s acting skills, but he did add that Chehon came alive in this partnership. He said that in the past, Chehon has had a hard time showing emotion; I choose to blame that on his robot of a partner who got sent home last week.
Next up, it was time for Tiff and Eliana to do a Broadway burlesque number. I love it when the ladies dance together! I miss this. One of my favorite performances from this whole season was from the first top 20 show, when Tiffany and Audrey did a contemporary number together.
These two ladies are so great. They have so much personality, and when they dance together, they really just set the place on fire. The routine and the track were so perfect for them, too – “When You’re Good to Mama” from Chicago – and it really made me wish they didn’t save stuff like this for the finale.
It also made very eager to see what was in store for us when Chehon and Cyrus paired up.
Before that, though, it was time for Cyrus’ solo. I love watching him dance, but each week, it doesn’t seem like we see anything new from him. I feel like I’ve seen him do the same exact solo for four or five straight weeks—and it’s a great solo, because I love animation and I love hip-hop, but reality shows like this favor contestants who truly grow throughout the competition. At least, they’re supposed to.
But in the alternate universe of So You Think You Can Dance, this solo got a standing ovation. Naturally.
Tiffany’s solo was just as good as Eliana’s (and the track was “I Believe” by Fantasia! Holler). It really is going to be such a tough call between these two ladies. Once again, it was fascinating to see Tiffany go from the paso doble to grungy hip hop to classical, and she was so fluid and so natural in each. This one even had just enough of a Disney princess vibe to give me chills.
Next, Chehon and Cyrus performed a warrior routine about the challenges they’ve conquered in their SYTYCD journey. Sonya was the perfect choreographer for this. She forced Cyrus to step his game up so that he didn’t look like a fool dancing next to Chehon.
And somehow, against all odds, he didn’t look like a fool. Sonya had them doing lifts with each other, and karate-kicking each other, and throwing each other across the floor … It was intense. I’m not going to lie and say it wasn’t totally obvious that Chehon is much more capable and versatile than Cyrus – there were several little solo moments for Chehon, during which Cyrus pretty much just stood there and, like, crouched – but the fact that this wasn’t a train wreck kind of amazed me. So, props to Sonya for that.
Nigel, too, credited Sonya with helping the guys up the ante. He then rambled on for about 90 seconds about how much of an inspiration Cyrus is and called him his favorite person on this show and somehow avoided talking about his dancing at all. Nigel then told Chehon that he was his favorite dancer of the night. Not that it matters.
Mary commended the guys for fighting as hard as they could along this journey, and Rob complimented their camaraderie and selflessness with each other.
Chehon wore a shirt for his final solo, which began with him reading a letter, throwing it to the ground and then pacing backwards in slow motion. He’s so good. He’s not quite as versatile as either of the ladies – he still struggles with Latin styles and, naturally, with hip hop – but I find his technical skills so impressive that it doesn’t necessarily bother me that he can be a bit limited.
Eliana’s fifth and final routine with all-star Alex Wong was choreographed by Travis, and as expected, it was one of the toughest of the night. There was a lot of movement, a lot of lifts, a lot of choreography that required absolutely perfect lines and perfect extension. And to nobody’s surprise, Eliana saved her best for last. She was so assertive when she needed to be, and yet when the choreography called for Alex to literally drag her around the stage, she immediately switched modes. She makes something so difficult look so, so easy.
Rob told Eliana there’s nothing she can’t do and that the routine was poetry. Nigel said it was unquestionably his favorite routine of the night, and then he dropped a huge bomb by telling Eliana she is his favorite dancer ever, in the history of this show. I think he may have just solidified the win for her. Mary said Eliana’s feet and ankles were extraordinary and that she oozes passion.
For her personal finale, Tiffany teamed up with Chehon for a rumba. “It has to be so hot, the audience has to be uncomfortable,” the choreographer told us. This would be interesting for Chehon, who has been notoriously incapable of connecting with his partners in the past.
I just adore Tiffany. She’s so graceful and she, like Eliana, really does make everything look so easy. Chehon was good, too, but he was more of Tiffany’s partner in this routine than a competitor. He did prove his worth, though, with one spectacular lift mid-routine –he really is such a good partner – and while I wouldn’t say that the chemistry between these two was off the charts, I thought they were very sweet.
Mary said that Chehon has struggled with the Latin styles, but not with the rumba—this allowed him to be masculine and controlling. She did, however, say that the chemistry wasn’t really all there. Rob actually did feel that there was a connection between these two, which he found “sexy.” Nigel said that he was glad the accounting department finally found room in the budget to buy a shirt for Chehon, but unfortunately, they still didn’t have sufficient funds for buttons.
So. Just in case the producers weren’t being clear enough with their favoritism. Guess which all-star Cyrus got to perform with for his final number? Twitch. Guess which style they performed? Animation.
Seriously.
(Oh, and by the way, he always, always, always gets to perform near or at the end of the show.)
Of course, this routine was going to be spectacular. How could it not be? People have been saying Cyrus is this show’s next Twitch since Week 1, and watching them perform together was special. Christopher Scott choreographed the show’s FIRST EVER ANIMATION ROUTINE (as Cat reminded us no fewer than 400 times), about two guys who have been genetically altered and are experiencing their new bodies for the first time. I have to give him snaps for creativity; this was a new one.
This really was one of the best routines of the entire season. Cyrus excels at this (if only at this), and it was so cool to watch he and Twitch perform together, so perfectly in sync with each other. They were like robots. If you haven’t YouTubed it yet, do yourself a favor. This routine probably won Cyrus the competition. And if the routine didn’t, he and Twitch concluded the number with an adorably ecstatic man hug.
Once the applause died down – which honestly took about two minutes – Rob told Twitch and Cyrus they are two superstars. Mary could barely speak but managed to say that they stole the show. Nigel told them they are both “world class.”
And then things got weird.
Nigel said he loves Cyrus and has supported him all season, but that he wouldn’t be voting for him on Tuesday. The entire audience definitely thought it was a joke. Everyone thought Nigel was going to follow that up that statement with something Cowell-esque along the lines of, “… I’m going to vote for you a MILLION times tonight!” But instead, he embarked on a rambling explanation for why he would choose to support Chehon instead. He was serious.
To be totally honest, I wondered if this was a ploy to get sympathy votes for Cyrus. It was that bizarre.
I cannot even describe to you the death glare Cyrus gave him during this diatribe. Suffice to say, it was amazing.
And on that very odd note, whom are you voting for? Is Nigel right—does Chehon deserve it more because he’s allegedly worked longer and harder for it (or something)? Which lady will take the crown?
Hope you voted!
[Image Credit: FOX]
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